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Luis “Panch” Perez
Tyler, the Creator
Concerts
7 Best Moments from Tyler, The Creator's Chromakopia Tour in Montreal
The Los Angeles rapper delivered a blockbuster, sold-out show at Bell Centre on Tuesday (July 22), even if it left out music from his just-released new album Don't Tap The Glass.
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Tyler, The Creator played his first concert since the release of his new album Don't Tap The Glass on Tuesday (July 22) at Montreal's Bell Centre, but it was still heavily focused around CHROMAKOPIA.
The rapper is still on the tour for his critically acclaimed 2024 album, and played the second of three dates in Canada — following a stop at Rogers Arena in Vancouver back in February (Feb. 28) and ahead of his Toronto show at Scotiabank Arena (July 24). The international trek is Tyler's biggest production yet, packing out 20,000-cap arenas. CHROMAKOPIA was one of his most successful projects, landing atop the Billboard 200 and the Canadian Albums chart last year with just four days of tracking.
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With a stage resembling the giant CHROMAKOPIA storage containers in the album's promo and green lights illuminating the entire venue, the show brings the world of his album to life onstage.
The Montreal crowd belted out song lyrics and eagerly cheered throughout the night as Tyler delivered a career-spanning setlist complete with charisma, elaborate stage design and pyrotechnics.
Here are the highlights from Tyler, The Creator's CHROMAKOPIA show in Montreal.
The Anticipation Explodes with "St. Chroma"
Tyler didn't even have to be onstage to get the crowd excited, as "Chromakopia" chants erupted in unison throughout the arena once the lights went out, before any music started playing. The audience roared once he appeared and began rapping "St. Chroma," and they belted out Daniel Caesar's chorus on the song in perfect harmony. The anticipation paid off once the beat dropped, with an array of fireworks shooting up from behind the stage as the crowd below hollered in excitement.
Tyler Gives the Montreal Crowd a Special Shoutout
The rapper gave his first address to the crowd after just a few songs, praising their enthusiasm right off the bat. "It's been a long time since I've been here. We're only three songs in but the energy is so much better than the last four shows I've done," he told the audience.
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Digging Through the Crates: Going Back in Time
While the massive storage container and floating catwalk were already impressive, Tyler's stage design featured a B-stage designed like a cozy living room where he performed most of his back catalogue. He introduced each of his previous albums by repeatedly digging through a crate of records and slowly picking each record. The gimmick kept the audience on their toes while eliciting a strong reaction for each album, highlighting how each one is cherished by his fanbase.
A Blip of the New Record
The Los Angeles rapper's latest album Don't Tap The Glass was released the day prior to the show, leaving fans wondering whether any of the new songs would be played in concert the first time in Montreal. Although no songs were played, the introductory beep on "Stop Playing With Me" was played for a split second between the CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST and Flower Boy sections, maybe by accident. Maybe he's saving it for Montreal's Osheaga festival, where he'll headline on August 2, just next weekend.
Bell Centre Ballad: The Crowd Belts Out "Like Him"
The slow, swing-tempo ballad "Like Him" was already a standout on CHROMAKOPIA before it gained traction on TikTok, becoming a certified fan favourite. The entire arena sang along powerfully to the song, capturing every high and low to a T, be it the song's cries of "Momma, I'm chasing a ghost" to its abrupt moments of silence. Fireworks rained down behind Tyler after the final beat switch, creating a stunning scene soundtracked by the synths and bells in the song's cathartic peak.
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@iman__ahm Montreal crowd never fails, we’re always loud 🙂↕️❤️ #tylerthecreator #montreal #mtl #chromakopia #bellcenter #fyp
Attention to Detail: Tyler Raps "Thought I Was Dead" Verse A Cappella
Tyler's performance of "Thought I Was Dead" was a burst of energy, from the flashing green lights to the song's loud, clunky production, and his delivery of the song's final verse truly highlighted his mastery of his craft. He rapped the entire verse a cappella, speeding up and slowing down his cadence while enunciating every last word. The crowd cheered in admiration of his flow, and his conviction bolstered clever lines like "Y'all wanna take what I got, but y'all do not got what it take."
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Bonus: Lil Yachty Performs with a Fidget Spinner
Along with the eclectic duo Paris Texas, Lil Yachty also set the tone before Tyler hit the stage. Midway through his performance of "Strike (Holster)," he pulled out a fidget spinner which he proceeded to show off to the camera and play with while performing many of his hits. The novel onstage accessory also felt like a callback to the era when Yachty first rose to popularity, and his hits from this 2016-17 period such as "Broccoli" and "iSpy" proved to be crowd favourites during his set.
@slackvi44 W Yachty fr #fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #chromackopia #lilyachty
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